Tom Cruise Reacts to ‘Last Great Movie Star’ Praise at MI: The Final Reckoning Premiere

May 19, 2025: The red carpet rolled out in grand fashion at New York City’s Lincoln Center on Sunday, May 18, as Hollywood icon Tom Cruise led the global premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. The eighth and reportedly final chapter in the adrenaline-fueled franchise marks the end of an era, and fans turned out in massive numbers to witness Cruise’s emotional farewell to his most iconic role—Ethan Hunt.

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The 62-year-old actor, known for redefining action cinema with his daredevil stunts and relentless charisma, was all smiles as he interacted with fans and media.

A viral moment from the night came during an interview with Entertainment Tonight, where a reporter declared, “Nobody gets people in the seats of movie theatres like Tom Cruise.” The crowd roared in agreement. But Cruise, with characteristic modesty, deflected the praise: “I don’t want to be [the last great movie star]. There’s so many other talented actors out there. I want to see them crush it.”

Cruise’s humility extended further when speaking about fellow actor Michael B. Jordan, who made headlines earlier in the week by attending the London premiere of The Final Reckoning. The two stars shared a warm hug and posed for cameras, drawing admiration from fans and press alike. “I’m a huge fan of his,” Cruise said, before teasing a possible future collaboration. “We’re going to go make a movie. That’s what we’re going to be doing.”

Directed by longtime collaborator Christopher McQuarrie, The Final Reckoning brings back franchise staples Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Angela Bassett, and Henry Czerny. The film, slated for a May 23 global release, is expected to be a summer blockbuster, closing out the Mission: Impossible saga with high stakes and explosive action.

Cruise also gave a shoutout to other major summer releases, including Keanu Reeves and Ana de Armas in Ballerina, and Brad Pitt’s much-anticipated Formula 1 film. “It’s going to be a great summer of movies,” he said. “I’m looking forward to going, and everybody having a good summer.”

As Mission: Impossible nears the finish line, one thing remains clear: Tom Cruise’s legacy is far from over—and audiences around the world are buckling up for one last ride with Ethan Hunt.